Section 4
Orbits and Effects

To learn more about the gravitational "slingshot" effect, visit the following web site:

Galileo Overview, NASA
Learn a little more about how the Galileo spacecraft used the gravitational fields of Earth and Venus to propel itself into space towards Jupiter. There is also a helpful diagram of its path over time.

To learn more about the orbits of comets and asteroids, visit the following web sites:

Comet Orbits, National Air and Space Museum
Learn how orbits are determined. Also examine the factors that affect a comet's orbit as well as how we know a comet is in its predicted orbit.

Orbits, Near Earth Object Program - NASA
Enter the name of any asteroid or comet, and a 3D orbit visualization tool will appear for that object. You can also select from the list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids to see the asteroids orbit in relation the orbits of Earth and other planets in the solar system.